Page 57 of A City of Hearts and Feathers

Zoe looked to Arslan and Kahil for help. "But I don't have soothsayer abilities like my other family members. I restore books."

"It won't take long then," Lydia said, smiling with too many teeth. "This way."

Arslan gave Zoe a slight nod, and they followed Lydia through a tunnel to the right of the statue of Kybele. They went down even further into the cave city, and Zoe's skin started to crawl. She hadn't thought she had a problem with caves or tight spaces until then.

Zoe focused on her breathing, which meant smelling Lydia's cloyingly sweet violet perfume. She should have stayed in bed with Kahil. She reached a hand behind her, and his fingers brushed against hers. The touch calmed her racing heartbeat. Kahil and Arslan wouldn't let her be stuck down there with the horrible woman.

"This is where I leave you. I look forward to receiving your invitation for the auction shortly," Lydia said, stopping in front of a wooden door.

Zoe hoped her smile didn't look as forced as it felt. "I'll get it in the mail straight away."

"Pleasure to see you again, Arslan," Lydia purred in his direction. Once again, she ignored Kahil completely and walked back into the darkness.

Zoe opened her mouth, but Kahil rested his hand over it. He shook his head and gestured to his ear and the walls.

Walls have ears, Zoe figured out.

"Do we just go in?" she asked instead.

"I believe so," Arslan replied and opened the door for her. "It's not locked."

Inside was a chamber filled with colored glass lanterns to guide their way. Zoe followed Arslan until they came to a large fire burning in a black brazier. There was movement in a wide, dark hallway, and Zoe bit back a gasp at the beautiful face that appeared. It looked like it was carved from pale ivory, its eyes and lips painted gold. The creature stepped into the light on golden cat's paws, its ivory wings tucked tightly behind its back.

"A Kartal," the sphinx said, its voice feminine but deep.

Zoe didn't know what to do, so she bowed. It felt right. Lydia might have been the leader of the light in the city, but the sphinx radiated power. It was a true queen.

"Come to me, daughter of Oman," it said, and Zoe stepped closer. The inhumanely beautiful face leaned down to investigate her face. "You have your grandmother's eyes. Do you have her power?"

"No? I'm like my father. I run the bookstore. I will be running it, I mean," Zoe babbled.

The sphinx cooed, almost like a bird. "Give me a drop of your blood, and I will tell you everything that's in it."

"Ah, I'm not sure—" She looked to Arslan for help, but the sphinx's wings snapped in irritation.

"Don't look to others to make your decisions, daughter. You will never learn to trust yourself otherwise," it said with a hiss.

Zoe took a deep breath and undid the band-aid on her finger where her cut was still fresh. She squeezed it until it re-opened, and a drop of blood welled. She offered it to the sphinx, hoping she wasn't about to make a terrible mistake. The sphinx's rough, cat tongue lapped against the cut.

"Hmmm, bibliomancy perhaps," it said thoughtfully. "With some training you might cultivate some abilities if you desire it." Zoe let out a breath, and the sphinx laughed. "You don't want magic, daughter?"

"To be honest, I'm having enough trouble dealing with one codex, let alone finding out I can do magic," she replied honestly.

"Wise too. I can see why Aurelio likes you so much. You will be a good consort for him." The sphinx leveled its silver eyes on her. "Let me leave you with a warning, daughter. There are those around you that are not what they seem, and you must follow your own instincts when it comes to the codex. Trust yourself over others always. The wisdom you seek lies within you already. You have everything you need to make this right."

Zoe swallowed hard. "Gnothi Seauton?"

"Indeed," the sphinx said. She plucked a feather from her wing and offered it to Zoe. "Take this. It will give you safe passage out of the tunnels. Do not go back to the main temple. The priestess is waiting to imprison you and hold you to ransom until you give her what she wants."

"What? I thought Lydia was meant to be the leader of the light," Zoe said, accepting the feather. It was heavier than it looked, as long as her forearm and edged in gold.

"Lydia remains a light soul because others will dirty their own for her. She doesn't have to think the order before her followers are enacting it. They are angry that you have refused to give them the codex and want to make you suffer for it," the sphinx said.

"Why are you helping me?" Zoe asked.

"Lydia might have made herself at home in these caves, but they have been mine for much longer. You are one ofmydaughters, not hers. That is why I protect you," the sphinx replied.

"Thank you," Zoe said, tears in her throat for reasons she couldn't understand. The sphinx shifted, its lion tail gesturing to the tunnel behind it.

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